(C) South Dakota Searchlight
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The wait begins for Leonard Peltier • South Dakota Searchlight [1]

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Date: 2024-06-12  

Peltier is currently serving two consecutive life sentences at Coleman Maximum Security in Florida after being convicted of aiding and abetting in the murder of two FBI agents on June 26, 1975, at the Jumping Bull Ranch in South Dakota.

Peltier is 79 years old and has been struggling with health concerns for years. He’s had trouble managing his diabetes while incarcerated, experienced the loss of vision in one eye, had open heart surgery, an aortic aneurysm, and is dealing with the lingering effects of contracting COVID-19.

Often referred to as a political prisoner, Peltier was the only one out of three AIM members charged in the murders of the two FBI agents who was not acquitted of the charges. Two other AIM members who were present, Robert Robideau and Dino Butler, were both acquitted following a trial in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

After fleeing to Canada and being extradited back to the United States, Peltier was tried in Fargo, North Dakota, and found guilty of both murders. Federal prosecutors later changed his charges to aiding and abetting in the two murders.

Peltier has already served a longer sentence than most principals in murder convictions.

After fleeing to Canada and being extradited to the United States, Peltier was convicted and sentenced in 1977 to life in prison, despite defense claims that evidence against him had been falsified.

A long list of people, tribes, and organizations that have called for Peltier’s freedom including the former prosecutor in the case, members of Congress, Amnesty International USA, Pope John Francis, the Dalai Lama, the National Congress of American Indians and dozens of tribal nations, Peltier’s own tribe, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians has also called for his release.

On June 7, FBI Director Christopher Wray released a letter he penned to Patricia Cushwa, acting chair of the U.S. Parole Commission in opposition of paroling Peliter.

“Over the past 45 years, no fewer than 22 federal judges have evaluated the evidence and considered Peltier’s legal arguments,” Wray said in the letter. “Each has reached the same conclusion: Peltier’s claims are meritless, and his convictions and sentence must stand. Despite the overwhelming and consistent court rulings, Peltier has refused to accept any responsibility for his violent crimes and persists in advancing spurious claims that judges have repeatedly examined and exposed as false.”

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[1] Url: https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/06/12/the-wait-begins-for-leonard-peltier/

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